The camp she attends is the free, week-long Walton County Sheriff’s Office Summer Camp.

School Resource deputies become camp counselors for the week, forming relationships with the kids they hope will carry over into the school year.

Heitger said she likes having the deputies as counselors.

"Most of them," she clarified with a smile. "It depends on if they want to play kickball or not."

She noted that the camp included a lot of new experiences, including getting to know the deputies.

"Meeting them is quite a new experience," she said.

Rhiannon Fountain was in her first year at the camp, but she was ready to do it again, including meeting the deputies.

The 6-year-old said she liked getting to paint goldfish and racecars, noting that her racecar was painted pink.

"It was fun," Fountain said, summing up the week-long experience.

This year, Walton County Sheriff’s Office hosted two camps, one from July 7-11 and one July 21-25. Children attended from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., and activities included fishing, swimming, a trip to the zoo and a law enforcement day.

Freeport Middle School SRO Nathan Hicks is also in his fourth year with camp. Working daily with the kids, he said, let’s the kids see law enforcement as real people.

"So many kids get the mindset that we’re just deputies and they can’t communicate with us," Hicks said. "Once the kids see us here in the camp, they feel they have some personal relationship with us."

He said when the kids see the deputies in schools, it becomes easier for them to talk to deputies when something happens.

The camp she attends is the free, week-long Walton County Sheriff’s Office Summer Camp.

School Resource deputies become camp counselors for the week, forming relationships with the kids they hope will carry over into the school year.

Heitger said she likes having the deputies as counselors.

"Most of them," she clarified with a smile. "It depends on if they want to play kickball or not."

She noted that the camp included a lot of new experiences, including getting to know the deputies.

"Meeting them is quite a new experience," she said.

Rhiannon Fountain was in her first year at the camp, but she was ready to do it again, including meeting the deputies.

The 6-year-old said she liked getting to paint goldfish and racecars, noting that her racecar was painted pink.

"It was fun," Fountain said, summing up the week-long experience.

This year, Walton County Sheriff’s Office hosted two camps, one from July 7-11 and one July 21-25. Children attended from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., and activities included fishing, swimming, a trip to the zoo and a law enforcement day.

Freeport Middle School SRO Nathan Hicks is also in his fourth year with camp. Working daily with the kids, he said, let’s the kids see law enforcement as real people.

"So many kids get the mindset that we’re just deputies and they can’t communicate with us," Hicks said. "Once the kids see us here in the camp, they feel they have some personal relationship with us."

He said when the kids see the deputies in schools, it becomes easier for them to talk to deputies when something happens.